Once again, the people behind the Spoon Train Audio-label have made a compilation of independent pop from Oslo. The album is called “Oslo2″ and features 16 songs from 16 bands, – most of them are bands we already know, but some are completely new to us. This is the follow up to last years “Oslo!”, and this time they have managed to refine the pop-focus they have on these compilations. Less fuzz, more melody.
Before I start commenting on the music, I must give two thumbs up for the initiative. Compilations like this, where established artists stand next to completely unknown bands, is a great way to get new bands out to the public, and also a way to make the pop-scene stronger. The way they focus on independent pop-music gives us a varied, but consistent album. There are definitely ups and downs here, but it has become an album that you can put on and listen through without feeling the need to skip songs that don’t fit in. They all fit.
So, what bands can we find on this album? Lots of good bands! You can hear wonderful tunes from “old” favourites of mine, like The Little Hands of Asphalt, Norma Sass, My Little Pony, Hiawata!, Yoyoyo Acapulco, Nomber 5s, Children and corpse playing in the streets and Firetop mountain.
My favourites, however, are the songs from these artists:
Cold Mailman starts the show with the stunningly beautiful “Time is of the essence”, a song we also had on our own compilation “Summer’s here!” a year ago. The Oslo2-version is different, with added drums and an updated sound. I was very happy to see in the inlay that the mailman will deliver a new album in 2010. Great news!
Therese Aune is an artist I have heard about, but never heard. Her song “Chameleon” is worth buying the album for on its own. She should have been on those big stages with this! Her vocals are intensely strong and beautiful, full of colour and dynamics, and the piano-arrangements on this song fits the atmosphere perfectly. Definitely one on my top experiences on this album.
Einar Stray is a hidden gem in the Norwegian pop-scene, and even if he seem to do a lot of very interesting things, his name rarely gets into the big papers. On this compilation, he’s represented with “Arrows” from last years “Favors & fields” ep, – a classic song in my ears and one of the better and most interesting songs ever produced in my little country. Stray is like a northern mix between Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, The Books, and Andrew Bird. His debutalbum will be released in 2011.
Go Fandango is one of the new names on this album, and their upbeat “End credits” leaves me wanting to hear more from the band. In all its pop-freshness it also carries some darker elements and some clear references to 80s indie.
Like Spinning‘s acoustic and folky “Crush (And Naivety)” was a song that played along without leaving the biggest marks the first times I listened to the album, but it is definitely a grower and I really LOVE this little song now. Like the before mentioned Einar Stray, Like Spinning’s main woman Kari Jahnsen leaves the melody in front, but adds a lot of interesting elements behind it. Interesting!
Casa Murilo is one of the new Oslo pop bands that I have very high hopes for. Their song “Murilo, I love you” is one of the few I actually skip back to hear again and again. A lovely and super-catchy pop song.
Seppuku Zephyr Dance is another of the unknown names on the compilation, and another good one. Their dreamy, almost shoegazy (but not) song “Carousel” makes me think of the early days 4ad bands like Cocteau Twins or Lush, but also the less noisy sides of other Norwegian bands like Je Suis Animal and Maribel.
Monzano, – Sjur Lyseid from The Little Hands of Asphalt’s main band – give us a very good new song from their upcoming album on this compilation. On the beautiful “Cold Waters”, we can hear Lyseid in a duet with Thea Glenton Raknes, the singer in Norma Sass.
“Oslo2″ should be in the shops from today.
Here’s another favourite from the compilation, My Little Pony’s “The Capital of Norway”:
